Jack is clearly our most laid-back team member.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Moving Forward
On Wednesday night we met with Missions Resource Network (MRN). We are continuing to move forward in preparations for the move and mission work in the Illawara region. At the end of this month about 1/2 of our team will participate in an intense strategy workshop which will help us develop a more detailed 'ministry strategy'. In the New Year we hope to take part in an interpersonal workshop as a team.
Jack is clearly our most laid-back team member.
Jack is clearly our most laid-back team member.
Friday, September 22, 2006
America: the Convenient
I've noticed how convenient many things are here in the good 'ole US of A. Sure, I don't use some of these...but just WHAT do you suppose I do when I find myself Down Under and want to:
- do 'drive-thru' banking?
- pick up prescription drugs at the drive-thru chemist/pharmacy?
- drop off or pick up my dry cleaning at...you guessed it...the drive-thru cleaners?
- shop at 10pm, or 11pm or better yet 2am?
- order my McDonalds meal while checking out my groceries at Wal-Mart or equivalent? (ok...I can probably live without this one! But what if???)
- ...
No doubt about it...America is convenient! What are you used to? Or for those around the world, what do you miss? Better yet, what conveniences does Japan? Italy? PNG? Australia? Bolivia? have to offer? I know you're out there!
- do 'drive-thru' banking?
- pick up prescription drugs at the drive-thru chemist/pharmacy?
- drop off or pick up my dry cleaning at...you guessed it...the drive-thru cleaners?
- shop at 10pm, or 11pm or better yet 2am?
- order my McDonalds meal while checking out my groceries at Wal-Mart or equivalent? (ok...I can probably live without this one! But what if???)
- ...
No doubt about it...America is convenient! What are you used to? Or for those around the world, what do you miss? Better yet, what conveniences does Japan? Italy? PNG? Australia? Bolivia? have to offer? I know you're out there!
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Alaska Happenings
I had a wonderful time in Alaska. Here’s a brief rundown on our time there and some pictures.
Saturday: visited beautiful Stanley Park in Vancouver. The park has beautiful gardens, harbors and totem poles. The weather was perfect! In the afternoon we boarded the Summit and set sail for Alaska.
Sunday: cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage. I also had to attend a seminar during the day. In the evening was the first ‘formal’ evening of the cruise.
Monday: Juneau. We got off around noon and got a taxi to Auk Bay Harbor. There we were prepped for our kayaking experience in Mendenhall Lake. Mendenhall Glacier feeds into this lake. Other than one other canoe boat, we were the ONLY people on the lake. It was AMAZING! We kayaked right to the face of the glacier (keeping some distance in case of calving). We probably kayaked 3-4 miles. It was an incredible experience. We met several people throughout the cruise who said ‘that was YOU we saw out there? How did you get all the way there?’, after we told them what ‘excursion’ we did in Juneau. After kayaking, we visited with Rachel and Carly Phelps at their home in Juneau. We enjoyed dinner down in the main harbor, in a restaurant overlooking the three cruise ships docked in Juneau. It was so wonderful to spend some time with Shawn and Rachel and to meet Carly. She’s a cutie! Shawn is a police officer in Juneau so we had a brief (outside) tour of his workplace. In Juneau, we also saw the salmon trying to swim upstream to spawn. It is so amazing…the river is just FULL of salmon! This is something we saw in every stream and river while in Alaska.
Tuesday: Skagway was probably my most favorite port of call. Juneau was a winner because of our kayaking adventure and seeing the Phelps. But Skagway was just beautiful. It is a very quaint and historical town. This was also our most perfect weather day. It was warm and sunny and in the distance we could clearly see Glacier Bay National Park. We hiked to lower Dewey Lake, saw bear tracks (ok…maybe not bear. Wolf? Dog? Whatever they were, they freaked me out!), shopped and road the White Pass Yukon Railroad to Yukon Canada. The views were spectacular. And we were even treated to the train guide jumping into the lake (35 degrees F)! It was her last day and this is apparantely the tradition. I’d be leaving without notice!!!
Wednesday: Sitka. The cloudly skies returned on Wednesday but it did not stop us from getting out and enjoying another neat little town along the Inside Passage. We did some more hiking in Sitka…saw more salmon and just enjoyed town. We saw a bald eagle playing down by the river. It was a slower day but enjoyable. In the evening we watched a 30 minute Cirque du Soleil performance. If you have never seen one, I highly recommend it! It is even more amazing that they can do this on a moving vessel!
Thursday: Icy Strait Point. This is pretty much a private island, which is visited just 4 days a week by 3 different cruise lines. The town of Hoonah used to have a thriving canning industry. It is no longer operating, but there is a display showing the ins and outs of salmon canning, shops at the pier and beautiful rainforest walking trails. We walked through the rainforest, the stores, and into downtown Hoonah. There is absolutely nothing to the downtown area except 2 small stores and a bar style restaurant that sells crab. Being the seafood lover that I am, I treated myself to ½ a crab for just 8 bucks! What a deal! On both Wednesday and Thursday, our ports of call required us to tender in (versus dock and be able to walk off the ship and into town) on smaller vessels. This was a first for me and I was really impressed how smooth Celebrity operated the whole process. Tonight was our 2nd formal dining experience. We were not going to the main dining room every night since our dining time was 8:30pm…but I was not going to miss lobster! It was delicious, of course…and I was always SO impressed by the service of Joseph and Chardie. All the service people on board truly make the cruise! It is amazing to me that they can remember our names, and what we like and so on. Tonight was also the Celebrity Midnight Gala Buffett!
Friday: Hubbard Glacier. This was a real highlight for me. The ship was able to get so close to the glacier. It is a huge glacier and calved a lot while we were out there. It sounds like thunder….it is incredible to watch and hear. The ship spent a couple of hours there and had a naturalist on board. After leaving the Glacier, we sailed for about 17 hours to Seward, Alaska. I had my last ½ day seminar in the afternoon. We played Celebrity (cruise lines…not ‘Hollywood celebrities’) Jeopardy and our team one! Whoohoo! It was entertaining to say the least to watch adults whine about the rules!!!
Saturday: Arrival in Seward. We walked into town (with all our luggage...I don't think too many people do this!) and went to the sea life center which is where they rehabilitate injured sea life. I then boarded a bus for Anchorage (about 3 hours). I arrived in Anchorage around 2pm and am now waiting for my flight to Memphis at 9:40pm tonight. It feels like I am on the ship still as everything is moving…I remember after just a 3 night Bahamas cruise, that feeling lasted one week. I hope it won’t last longer than a week this time…
Alaska was the trip of a lifetime. I am sorry that Jason could not make it but we look forward to time together in Jamaica in October. And it was fun to spend some time with Christi. Thanks to her, I did more than I would have done alone. She is the hiking/see-it-all/kayak nazi, no doubt about it! At least we worked off all the extra food we ate! And we always came back with stories to entertain the other travel agents (and ourselves)!
Saturday: visited beautiful Stanley Park in Vancouver. The park has beautiful gardens, harbors and totem poles. The weather was perfect! In the afternoon we boarded the Summit and set sail for Alaska.
Sunday: cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage. I also had to attend a seminar during the day. In the evening was the first ‘formal’ evening of the cruise.
Monday: Juneau. We got off around noon and got a taxi to Auk Bay Harbor. There we were prepped for our kayaking experience in Mendenhall Lake. Mendenhall Glacier feeds into this lake. Other than one other canoe boat, we were the ONLY people on the lake. It was AMAZING! We kayaked right to the face of the glacier (keeping some distance in case of calving). We probably kayaked 3-4 miles. It was an incredible experience. We met several people throughout the cruise who said ‘that was YOU we saw out there? How did you get all the way there?’, after we told them what ‘excursion’ we did in Juneau. After kayaking, we visited with Rachel and Carly Phelps at their home in Juneau. We enjoyed dinner down in the main harbor, in a restaurant overlooking the three cruise ships docked in Juneau. It was so wonderful to spend some time with Shawn and Rachel and to meet Carly. She’s a cutie! Shawn is a police officer in Juneau so we had a brief (outside) tour of his workplace. In Juneau, we also saw the salmon trying to swim upstream to spawn. It is so amazing…the river is just FULL of salmon! This is something we saw in every stream and river while in Alaska.
Tuesday: Skagway was probably my most favorite port of call. Juneau was a winner because of our kayaking adventure and seeing the Phelps. But Skagway was just beautiful. It is a very quaint and historical town. This was also our most perfect weather day. It was warm and sunny and in the distance we could clearly see Glacier Bay National Park. We hiked to lower Dewey Lake, saw bear tracks (ok…maybe not bear. Wolf? Dog? Whatever they were, they freaked me out!), shopped and road the White Pass Yukon Railroad to Yukon Canada. The views were spectacular. And we were even treated to the train guide jumping into the lake (35 degrees F)! It was her last day and this is apparantely the tradition. I’d be leaving without notice!!!
Wednesday: Sitka. The cloudly skies returned on Wednesday but it did not stop us from getting out and enjoying another neat little town along the Inside Passage. We did some more hiking in Sitka…saw more salmon and just enjoyed town. We saw a bald eagle playing down by the river. It was a slower day but enjoyable. In the evening we watched a 30 minute Cirque du Soleil performance. If you have never seen one, I highly recommend it! It is even more amazing that they can do this on a moving vessel!
Thursday: Icy Strait Point. This is pretty much a private island, which is visited just 4 days a week by 3 different cruise lines. The town of Hoonah used to have a thriving canning industry. It is no longer operating, but there is a display showing the ins and outs of salmon canning, shops at the pier and beautiful rainforest walking trails. We walked through the rainforest, the stores, and into downtown Hoonah. There is absolutely nothing to the downtown area except 2 small stores and a bar style restaurant that sells crab. Being the seafood lover that I am, I treated myself to ½ a crab for just 8 bucks! What a deal! On both Wednesday and Thursday, our ports of call required us to tender in (versus dock and be able to walk off the ship and into town) on smaller vessels. This was a first for me and I was really impressed how smooth Celebrity operated the whole process. Tonight was our 2nd formal dining experience. We were not going to the main dining room every night since our dining time was 8:30pm…but I was not going to miss lobster! It was delicious, of course…and I was always SO impressed by the service of Joseph and Chardie. All the service people on board truly make the cruise! It is amazing to me that they can remember our names, and what we like and so on. Tonight was also the Celebrity Midnight Gala Buffett!
Friday: Hubbard Glacier. This was a real highlight for me. The ship was able to get so close to the glacier. It is a huge glacier and calved a lot while we were out there. It sounds like thunder….it is incredible to watch and hear. The ship spent a couple of hours there and had a naturalist on board. After leaving the Glacier, we sailed for about 17 hours to Seward, Alaska. I had my last ½ day seminar in the afternoon. We played Celebrity (cruise lines…not ‘Hollywood celebrities’) Jeopardy and our team one! Whoohoo! It was entertaining to say the least to watch adults whine about the rules!!!
Saturday: Arrival in Seward. We walked into town (with all our luggage...I don't think too many people do this!) and went to the sea life center which is where they rehabilitate injured sea life. I then boarded a bus for Anchorage (about 3 hours). I arrived in Anchorage around 2pm and am now waiting for my flight to Memphis at 9:40pm tonight. It feels like I am on the ship still as everything is moving…I remember after just a 3 night Bahamas cruise, that feeling lasted one week. I hope it won’t last longer than a week this time…
Alaska was the trip of a lifetime. I am sorry that Jason could not make it but we look forward to time together in Jamaica in October. And it was fun to spend some time with Christi. Thanks to her, I did more than I would have done alone. She is the hiking/see-it-all/kayak nazi, no doubt about it! At least we worked off all the extra food we ate! And we always came back with stories to entertain the other travel agents (and ourselves)!
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Vancouver
Greetings from Vancouver, Canada! We made it last night without any delay or strike! Yeah! We plan to do a little sightseeing before we board the ship. Have a good day, eh!
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Alaska Bound
Tomorrow, Friday August 25th, I am heading for Alaska. Christi and I are excited! We will spend a night in Vancouver, Canada before boarding the Celebrity Summit for a 7 night northbound Alaskan cruise. We have plans to kayak near glaciers in Juneau and visit the Phelps. I know we're going to do a bunch of other stuff but I can't think of what all it is now. Christi has been the planner!
Stay tuned for some pics of beautiful Alaska!
Stay tuned for some pics of beautiful Alaska!
Saturday, August 12, 2006
About 'Re-entry'
Re-entry has been on my mind for some time. I purchased the book by Craig Storti titled, 'The Art of Coming Home'. I wanted to share this excerpt from the very last page. I hope it will be meaningful to anyone out there who is in the process of re-entry, or who might be in the future.
"The ultimate context for understanding and appreciating reentry has to be the overseas experience that precedes it, for this is what gives reentry its meaning. In this regard, we might remind ourselves that the word 'reentry' comes to us from the space program, where, next to ignition or blastoff, the reentry phase is the most dangerous and difficult part of a space mission. In between, of course, comes the grand adventure of space exploration. So it is for the sojourner, whose reentry may also be dangerous and difficult but who needs only recall the wonder and richness of the overseas experience to put everything in perspective. Who can imagine astronauts, their space capsule rocking violently at the peak of reentry, wishing they'd never gone to the moon?" (pg 187) (sorry husband, no Turabian)
"The ultimate context for understanding and appreciating reentry has to be the overseas experience that precedes it, for this is what gives reentry its meaning. In this regard, we might remind ourselves that the word 'reentry' comes to us from the space program, where, next to ignition or blastoff, the reentry phase is the most dangerous and difficult part of a space mission. In between, of course, comes the grand adventure of space exploration. So it is for the sojourner, whose reentry may also be dangerous and difficult but who needs only recall the wonder and richness of the overseas experience to put everything in perspective. Who can imagine astronauts, their space capsule rocking violently at the peak of reentry, wishing they'd never gone to the moon?" (pg 187) (sorry husband, no Turabian)
Friday, August 11, 2006
Campus life
Grad school students in the off-season! Way to go guys!
Seriously though, it was sweeter than ever before to get back from Australia and catch up with our campus community. Living on campus has been such a wonderful blessing. I already feel nostalgic as I look back on the last three and a half years we have spent here. And I already feel deep emotions when I think of the day we will have to say goodbye to our neighbours and friends, professors and mentors and close this chapter of our life. Its one of those things you think will 'never happen' (at least I think)...
Just like I thought the day for highschool or college graduation would never come, or the wedding day, or the day for leaving Australia, Canada or Japan, I have often thought of our time in Memphis as 'without end'. Yet here I am, able to count on just two hands the number of months we have left here! Have we really been here this long???
So...before I cry all over the ibook...heres to a good, full, rich, sweet 10 months or so in the HOOD!
Lovin' Technology
Sorry for the lack of blog entries. We've been busy...
I don't know where Stephen gets the idea that we're Amish???
At least giving up cable (contract runs out in the fall, we hear) won't be quite so hard...
Oh and by the way, the husband and I have 'parted ways' in the blog-o-sphere. See 'husband' link for deeper thoughts....
I don't know where Stephen gets the idea that we're Amish???
At least giving up cable (contract runs out in the fall, we hear) won't be quite so hard...
Oh and by the way, the husband and I have 'parted ways' in the blog-o-sphere. See 'husband' link for deeper thoughts....
Survey trip celebration
Within a week of landing back in the US of A, our Memphis lives were back in full session. Work, study, GA work, etc, etc. It was a welcome retreat to get together with our team mates and celebrate a successful survey trip. And it was especially good to see Nina, Brenna and Darian who had stayed with grandparents during the summer.
We really feel like our trip was a success. We survived after all! We endured the stress filled time of preparations, the long and tiresome journey, the jet lag and the demanding schedule. We were able to gather most of the information we intended to gather. Sure we came up with some more questions which are yet to be answered...but we wouldn't want to take the 'faith' aspect out of our journey, would we?!
We celebrated with song, affirmation, praise and prayer. And we're excited to share with you the good news that the Jon, Sara, Nina and Jack will join us in Wollongong! They have an exciting couple of years ahead of them with plans to take them from Memphis to Wollongong through China or Taiwan as English teachers.
We're so thankful to serve God together in Wollongong with these two families. May God use each of us to His glory!
We really feel like our trip was a success. We survived after all! We endured the stress filled time of preparations, the long and tiresome journey, the jet lag and the demanding schedule. We were able to gather most of the information we intended to gather. Sure we came up with some more questions which are yet to be answered...but we wouldn't want to take the 'faith' aspect out of our journey, would we?!
We celebrated with song, affirmation, praise and prayer. And we're excited to share with you the good news that the Jon, Sara, Nina and Jack will join us in Wollongong! They have an exciting couple of years ahead of them with plans to take them from Memphis to Wollongong through China or Taiwan as English teachers.
We're so thankful to serve God together in Wollongong with these two families. May God use each of us to His glory!
Friday, July 28, 2006
Jetlag
Its almost 12:30am. I've tried to go fall asleep for about 1 hour...no luck. Hopefully a litte internet time will knock me out. :)
Here's a few family pics:
Here's a few family pics:
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Some pictures from the trip
The beginning of the adventure...boarding the plane in San Francisco...
Together in the Gong - Aussie lunch of meat pies and sausage rolls
City Beach, Wollongong
Overlooking the Harbour in Wollongong
The Crown Street Mall
More pictures to come later...
Together in the Gong - Aussie lunch of meat pies and sausage rolls
City Beach, Wollongong
Overlooking the Harbour in Wollongong
The Crown Street Mall
More pictures to come later...
Memphis
Greetings from Memphis, TN. After a long journey from Brisbane-Sydney-San Francisco-Denver-Memphis, we finally arrived home at about 11:30pm last night. Somewhere on our journey (we think my Mum's house), we misplaced our house keys and i-pod. The i-pod didn't pose a problem...but no keys at 11:30pm last night did. We couldn't seem to wake Justin and Erin (who had the master keys), and we didn't think Danny (who also has the master key) was home. As we walked downstairs though, wondering how we could 'break in', Danny walked out of his apartment. It was the perfect deliverance from a potentially ugly situation. (you know...the whole lack of sleep, jet lag, weary traveler, needing-a-shower, 'why-did-you-lose-the keys?' scenario etc...). Thanks Danny!
After a shower and a little unpacking (had a weird surge of energy around 1am), we finally put our weary bodies to bed. Sleep never feels better than it does after a long trip!
We will post more soon....we just wanted to say hello, and that we're back in Memphis, TN.
After a shower and a little unpacking (had a weird surge of energy around 1am), we finally put our weary bodies to bed. Sleep never feels better than it does after a long trip!
We will post more soon....we just wanted to say hello, and that we're back in Memphis, TN.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Wollongong to Brisbane
Greetings from Brisbane, Queensland. We are enjoying time with Nicole's family. We have been so blessed during my 7 + expatriate years to come home on an average of once a year. We're so thankful for these opportunities.
It has been good to see each member of my family. Saturday night we will celebrate my younger sister's engagement. Melissa and Vaughn Hughes will marry on Dec 28th this year. The engagement party will also be a good chance to catch up with other relatives and family friends.
Our last couple of days in Wollongong went smoothly. After our school visit, we visited with Dale Hartman. Monday evening we ate together as a team (we have fine culinary skills!) and then walked to the beach for a devotional. The lighthouse gave us some light and we enjoyed trying to sing over the roaring of the ocean. Wollongong is one beautiful place.
Our last full day in Wollongong was spent enjoying its beauty! We spent some time at Symbio Wildlife Park, did a little bushwalking, and drove the Great Ocean Road. In the evening we drove west to Campbelltown (Jason's old stomping grounds) and fellowshipped with our spiritual family there. We were able to share with them our plans and preparation process to this point. It was definitely an encouragement to Jason and I.
Wednesday morning we said Goodbye to Wollongong. As I walked down Crown Street that morning I smiled as I thought 'the next time I walk here I will be calling this place home.' I have no idea what the next 18 or some months will look like...but I find great comfort that God promises to take care of our every need.
More pictures coming once we land in Memphis.
It has been good to see each member of my family. Saturday night we will celebrate my younger sister's engagement. Melissa and Vaughn Hughes will marry on Dec 28th this year. The engagement party will also be a good chance to catch up with other relatives and family friends.
Our last couple of days in Wollongong went smoothly. After our school visit, we visited with Dale Hartman. Monday evening we ate together as a team (we have fine culinary skills!) and then walked to the beach for a devotional. The lighthouse gave us some light and we enjoyed trying to sing over the roaring of the ocean. Wollongong is one beautiful place.
Our last full day in Wollongong was spent enjoying its beauty! We spent some time at Symbio Wildlife Park, did a little bushwalking, and drove the Great Ocean Road. In the evening we drove west to Campbelltown (Jason's old stomping grounds) and fellowshipped with our spiritual family there. We were able to share with them our plans and preparation process to this point. It was definitely an encouragement to Jason and I.
Wednesday morning we said Goodbye to Wollongong. As I walked down Crown Street that morning I smiled as I thought 'the next time I walk here I will be calling this place home.' I have no idea what the next 18 or some months will look like...but I find great comfort that God promises to take care of our every need.
More pictures coming once we land in Memphis.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Wollongong
Today is Monday, Day 7 of our survey trip. Tomorrow will be our last full day, and then Wednesday we the Grizzles head back to the US, the Griffiths to Canberra and beyond, and the Whaleys to sunny Queensland. Bring on the Sunshine State!
This morning we visited West Wollongong Primary school. This is a very small school of about 180 students. The administrative manager was so kind and gave us an informative tour. It was good for all of us to see a local school and be able to ask questions. Even though I went to school in Australia, I was schooled in Queensland, and I am sure we will discover differences between the systems. In fact, we already discovered one big difference. This is that non-Aussies must pay even for public schooling in the state of New South Wales (NSW), and it is quite a significant amount (about $4500 AUD per year). In fact it might even be possible to be educated in a private school for less money. Good to know!
We ventured into Sydney on Saturday. The weather was miserably cold and rainy. We still had a good time. I always love Sydney. It doesn't matter to me how many times I see the Opera House or the Harbour Bridge...I still love it. I love the cosmopolitan feel and the big-city-rush. But it sure is good to leave it behind, too. We visited the Rocks Markets which are set in an historical area of Sydney. That night, Binh Troung cooked us a wonderful Vietnamese meal and had invited about 6 friends over so we enjoyed fellowship with Aussies, Japanese, Filipinos and Chinese. The diversity here is just amazing.
We have enjoyed visiting with Christians and non-Christians. Yesterday we worshipped with 16 people in Windang (just south of Wollongong). The 16 includes children. I was encouraged greatly by their committment to God and to each other. I was especially encourage by our visit with several of the members at lunch and during the afternoon.
God is teaching us many things. We have found answers to many of our questions, but have also a whole new set of questions. I guess it is impossible to know everything.....I must pray for greater faith.
A highlight of our survey trip has been worshipping daily with our team. Singing and sharing and praying together. And of course, it is wonderful to finally be here in the Wollongong area and to experience for ourselves the sights and the people.
Here's a few pictures for you to enjoy.
This morning we visited West Wollongong Primary school. This is a very small school of about 180 students. The administrative manager was so kind and gave us an informative tour. It was good for all of us to see a local school and be able to ask questions. Even though I went to school in Australia, I was schooled in Queensland, and I am sure we will discover differences between the systems. In fact, we already discovered one big difference. This is that non-Aussies must pay even for public schooling in the state of New South Wales (NSW), and it is quite a significant amount (about $4500 AUD per year). In fact it might even be possible to be educated in a private school for less money. Good to know!
We ventured into Sydney on Saturday. The weather was miserably cold and rainy. We still had a good time. I always love Sydney. It doesn't matter to me how many times I see the Opera House or the Harbour Bridge...I still love it. I love the cosmopolitan feel and the big-city-rush. But it sure is good to leave it behind, too. We visited the Rocks Markets which are set in an historical area of Sydney. That night, Binh Troung cooked us a wonderful Vietnamese meal and had invited about 6 friends over so we enjoyed fellowship with Aussies, Japanese, Filipinos and Chinese. The diversity here is just amazing.
We have enjoyed visiting with Christians and non-Christians. Yesterday we worshipped with 16 people in Windang (just south of Wollongong). The 16 includes children. I was encouraged greatly by their committment to God and to each other. I was especially encourage by our visit with several of the members at lunch and during the afternoon.
God is teaching us many things. We have found answers to many of our questions, but have also a whole new set of questions. I guess it is impossible to know everything.....I must pray for greater faith.
A highlight of our survey trip has been worshipping daily with our team. Singing and sharing and praying together. And of course, it is wonderful to finally be here in the Wollongong area and to experience for ourselves the sights and the people.
Here's a few pictures for you to enjoy.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Light
We had such a good send off from Park Ave Church. We were so encouraged as we walked out of Dana's sermon. (Ironically, he was talking about casting anxiety on the Lord from 1 Peter 5.) Thank you for the support and encouragement and teaching.
Today (Wednesday), the question was: How can I engage a total stranger in conversation?
We spent some time talking about what we were looking for in terms of what real estate agents could show us . . . but we couldn’t get them to show us anything. “Oh, that one’s about to be sold.” So we just drove to the addresses and took photos of the rent house and surrounds. We want to be prepared to rent when we first move to Wollongong, so we wanted to see what neighborhoods looked like and the typical house or apartment. The women (and baby, Jack) drove north and the men drove south. Us men saw houses (boring), but we also saw two boys throwing rocks or, hopefully, dirt clods at a minivan across the road. I yelled out the window at them: “Oi!” They looked at me. We drove on but I wanted to have a conversation with them. We were trying to find a pay phone so we could call a travel agent and say, “Meet us at the house on such and such,” but we couldn’t find a phone card. But, we found lunch in a little convenience store. The two men working there were cool. I wish we could have had a deeper conversation with them, but they had work to do and we had to go see some more neighborhoods. Then, we met the women back at the house on Smith Street. From there we drove up Mt. Kiera for a beautiful view of the city. We engaged a couple of older friends in some conversation. We were almost hurting ourselves laughing while taking our own picture. This new grandmother, Natalia, and her “friend,” Joseph, eventually offered to help. Joseph’s hobby is photography. He moved to Wollongong from Ireland several years ago. Jon and Sara were really good at engaging Natalia in conversation. Joseph was a little stand offish, but eventually we were all talking for a bit. “What’s your favorite thing about this city?” Natalia said, “Oh, the beaches!” Joseph said, “I’d have to say the harbor.” The harbor is old and rather small. There are still canons there from WWII, I think, and there are two lighthouses. The interesting thing about the lighthouses, I think, is that they no longer shine light into the darkness to save ships from destruction. They merely shine light on themselves as historical monuments. Isn’t that like God’s people? Sometimes we shine light on ourselves rather than piercing the darkness with the light of the world.
“You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)
After talking with the folks on the mountain and overlooking the city, we went to Wollongong University. We saw people from all sorts of ethnic backgrounds graduating. The University is set in the shadow of the mountain in the middle of a Eucalyptus forest (difficult to find, but thanks to Shawn’s navigation, we got there). We did find two young women, student workers, I think, and we said, “We’re here trying to see what this place is like and what goes on here. Where would you go and what would you do if you were us?” They answered pretty enthusiastically and seemed really glad to help us. “Go to the Uni Bar. But really classes start back Monday, so maybe come next week.” We will probably go back there and try to speak with more students and hopefully we can bond more with some students.
Well, we have prepared for spending most of the day today (Thursday), at the Macquarie School of Biblical Studies (MSOBS) annual lectureship. We’re excited about meeting some long-time brothers and sisters in the Sydney area. The lectureship takes place in a small building about the size of a four-bedroom house . . . in a city of 4.5 million souls. The churches of Christ form a small but strong group in the city. There will be a devotional at 10, Frank is doing something at 10:15, morning tea at 10:45, Dale Hartman is doing something at 11:00. Then we’ll have lunch, then Roy Courtney is doing something. I don’t know how the day will end, but we’ll probably leave there to do some shopping back in Wollongong and prepare for the next day here.
It might be a while before our next post. WiFi is hard to come by.
“Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” (Romans 15:21)
Today (Wednesday), the question was: How can I engage a total stranger in conversation?
We spent some time talking about what we were looking for in terms of what real estate agents could show us . . . but we couldn’t get them to show us anything. “Oh, that one’s about to be sold.” So we just drove to the addresses and took photos of the rent house and surrounds. We want to be prepared to rent when we first move to Wollongong, so we wanted to see what neighborhoods looked like and the typical house or apartment. The women (and baby, Jack) drove north and the men drove south. Us men saw houses (boring), but we also saw two boys throwing rocks or, hopefully, dirt clods at a minivan across the road. I yelled out the window at them: “Oi!” They looked at me. We drove on but I wanted to have a conversation with them. We were trying to find a pay phone so we could call a travel agent and say, “Meet us at the house on such and such,” but we couldn’t find a phone card. But, we found lunch in a little convenience store. The two men working there were cool. I wish we could have had a deeper conversation with them, but they had work to do and we had to go see some more neighborhoods. Then, we met the women back at the house on Smith Street. From there we drove up Mt. Kiera for a beautiful view of the city. We engaged a couple of older friends in some conversation. We were almost hurting ourselves laughing while taking our own picture. This new grandmother, Natalia, and her “friend,” Joseph, eventually offered to help. Joseph’s hobby is photography. He moved to Wollongong from Ireland several years ago. Jon and Sara were really good at engaging Natalia in conversation. Joseph was a little stand offish, but eventually we were all talking for a bit. “What’s your favorite thing about this city?” Natalia said, “Oh, the beaches!” Joseph said, “I’d have to say the harbor.” The harbor is old and rather small. There are still canons there from WWII, I think, and there are two lighthouses. The interesting thing about the lighthouses, I think, is that they no longer shine light into the darkness to save ships from destruction. They merely shine light on themselves as historical monuments. Isn’t that like God’s people? Sometimes we shine light on ourselves rather than piercing the darkness with the light of the world.
“You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)
After talking with the folks on the mountain and overlooking the city, we went to Wollongong University. We saw people from all sorts of ethnic backgrounds graduating. The University is set in the shadow of the mountain in the middle of a Eucalyptus forest (difficult to find, but thanks to Shawn’s navigation, we got there). We did find two young women, student workers, I think, and we said, “We’re here trying to see what this place is like and what goes on here. Where would you go and what would you do if you were us?” They answered pretty enthusiastically and seemed really glad to help us. “Go to the Uni Bar. But really classes start back Monday, so maybe come next week.” We will probably go back there and try to speak with more students and hopefully we can bond more with some students.
Well, we have prepared for spending most of the day today (Thursday), at the Macquarie School of Biblical Studies (MSOBS) annual lectureship. We’re excited about meeting some long-time brothers and sisters in the Sydney area. The lectureship takes place in a small building about the size of a four-bedroom house . . . in a city of 4.5 million souls. The churches of Christ form a small but strong group in the city. There will be a devotional at 10, Frank is doing something at 10:15, morning tea at 10:45, Dale Hartman is doing something at 11:00. Then we’ll have lunch, then Roy Courtney is doing something. I don’t know how the day will end, but we’ll probably leave there to do some shopping back in Wollongong and prepare for the next day here.
It might be a while before our next post. WiFi is hard to come by.
“Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” (Romans 15:21)
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Why Australia?
Saints and Supporters,
Thank you for sending us on this survey trip. We want to let you know some of the main questions we are seeking clear answers for in the next few weeks. Here they are:
Why Australia? Are people receptive to the Good News?
Why us? Is this the best place for our team to plant churches?
What's our plan? Why will it work?
We ask these questions because we want our future and the rest of the world's to be directed by God's desires and values. His Son, Jesus, is the reigning champion of the world! (even though people can't see that reality yet.) Blessed be your name now and forever. Amen.
In Him,
Jason & Nicole Whaley
Thank you for sending us on this survey trip. We want to let you know some of the main questions we are seeking clear answers for in the next few weeks. Here they are:
Why Australia? Are people receptive to the Good News?
Why us? Is this the best place for our team to plant churches?
What's our plan? Why will it work?
We ask these questions because we want our future and the rest of the world's to be directed by God's desires and values. His Son, Jesus, is the reigning champion of the world! (even though people can't see that reality yet.) Blessed be your name now and forever. Amen.
In Him,
Jason & Nicole Whaley
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Survey Trip Preparations
As I blog, Shawn and Kendra are en-route to Sydney via Denver and San Francisco. Jon, Sara, Jack, Jason and I will follow in their footsteps three days from now. It is hard to believe the time has come for 'the survey trip'. I've always used these words kind of loosely until now. Now they're much more meaningful to me, and this time next week, 'survey trip' will probably mean more than I can begin to imagine!
We feel as ready as we can. We are excited to know that we will have the opportunity to gather so much information while we are in Wollongong. We will meet with a real estate agent and make school visits, make price comparisons and so on. We will spend time visiting with the Christians who are already living and ministering in this area. But most exciting to me is the chance to talk to local people and gain some insight into their impressions and thoughts on God...spirituality...theology...to learn about their struggles...their needs...their day to day lives...
When we wrap up our survey trip on 7/19, Jason and I will fly to Brisbane to spend some time with my family. There have been some changes since we were there in July last year - my two nieces have grown so much, my sister got engaged, friends have had babies... We're excited to get 'caught up'.
I'll spend the next few days checking things off my 'to-do' list. I've decided that 'ready' is relative, and 'ready' or not, Sunday is just around the corner. Thanks for your prayers. We can't wait to share Wollongong with you!
We feel as ready as we can. We are excited to know that we will have the opportunity to gather so much information while we are in Wollongong. We will meet with a real estate agent and make school visits, make price comparisons and so on. We will spend time visiting with the Christians who are already living and ministering in this area. But most exciting to me is the chance to talk to local people and gain some insight into their impressions and thoughts on God...spirituality...theology...to learn about their struggles...their needs...their day to day lives...
When we wrap up our survey trip on 7/19, Jason and I will fly to Brisbane to spend some time with my family. There have been some changes since we were there in July last year - my two nieces have grown so much, my sister got engaged, friends have had babies... We're excited to get 'caught up'.
I'll spend the next few days checking things off my 'to-do' list. I've decided that 'ready' is relative, and 'ready' or not, Sunday is just around the corner. Thanks for your prayers. We can't wait to share Wollongong with you!
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